Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Moka Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Moka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $938 in Moka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,584 in Moka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,230 in Moka, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 8% cheaper than Moka, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Moka are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Moka 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.55 MUR 309

-70.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$44.24 MUR 2,090

-57.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.64 MUR 314

17.77%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.57 MUR 122

-24.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.95 MUR 44.79

-10.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.61 MUR 28.60

-42.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.16 MUR 102

-1.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.76 MUR 130

35.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.43 MUR 67.5

19.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.66 MUR 31.35

146.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.27 MUR 60.2

-10.24%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.27 MUR 107

-14.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.72 MUR 459

66.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.04 MUR 285

-48.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.31 MUR 487

5.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.99 MUR 93.9

38.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.93 MUR 91.1

-37.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.45 MUR 68.4

11.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.70 MUR 128

-41.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.03 MUR 48.60

35.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.00 MUR 47.11

17.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.83 MUR 39.29

-20.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.47 MUR 22.35

12.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$5.97 MUR 282

-21.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.21 MUR 388

127.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.78 MUR 84.1

1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.66 MUR 78.6

94.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.00 MUR 47.18

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$13.16 MUR 622

45.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.68 MUR 127

-47.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$2.72 MUR 129

-52.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$15.33 MUR 724

-48.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.38 MUR 65.3

-7.97%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$35.3K MUR 1.7M

-39.71%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$28.9K MUR 1.4M

-23.18%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.1 ฿2,256

$48.75 MUR 2,303

41.68%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.08 ฿460

$18.01 MUR 851

-21.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$26.82 MUR 1,267

-32.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$24.30 MUR 1,148

68.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.20 MUR 293

-4.52%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$299 ฿9,766

$153 MUR 7,243

95.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,980 MUR 188.0K

275.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$77.2 MUR 3,647

-29.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$36.63 MUR 1,731

-26.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$92.9 MUR 4,390

-8.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$55.9 MUR 2,643

26.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$516 MUR 24.4K

-16.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$327 MUR 15.5K

-27.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$948 MUR 44.8K

-15.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$705 MUR 33.3K

-26.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$321 MUR 15.2K

92.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

-20.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Moka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $516 in Moka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 92% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Moka. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $209 in Moka – so Moka wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Moka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moka costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,406 in Moka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $153 in Moka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Moka – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Moka at $938. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $938 in Moka. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.